Warp beam flange

ABSTRACT

A warp beam flange having a hub and a supporting ring rigidly connected to the bore of the hub. A clamp ring is mounted in a cavity of the hub and movable in axial direction by screws extending in axial direction. The supporting ring and the clamping ring are screw threaded and arranged to mate with a corresponding screw thread on a warp beam, so as a relative axial movement between the clamp ring and the supporting ring causes a clamping action on the warp beam.

United States Patent [191 Moser et a1.

[ Jan. 1,1974

[ WARP BEAM FLANGE [75] Inventors: Werner Moser, Menziken; Paul Buchi, Gontenschwil; Peter Weber, Menziken, all of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Aluminium AG Menziken,

Menziken, Switzerland [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 202,878

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 3, 1970 Switzerland 17870/70 [52] US. Cl. 242/1185 [51] Int. Cl B65h 75/14 [58] Field of Search 242/1185, 118.62, 242/1186, 118.61

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,085 5/1951 Blanchard 242/1185 3,099,417 7/1963 Portal 242/1l8.62

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 634,974 3/1950 Great Britain 242/1185 685,635 l/1953 Great Britain 242/1185 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Att0rneyFlynn & Frishauf [57] ABSTRACT A warp beam flange having a hub and a supporting ring rigidly connected to the bore of the hub. A clamp ring is mounted in a cavity of the hub and movable in axial direction by screws extending in axial direction. The supporting ring and the clamping ring are screw threaded and arranged to mate with a corresponding screw thread on a warp beam, so as a relative axial movement between the clamp ring and the supporting ring causes a clamping action on the warp beam.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures WARP BEAM FLANGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to warp beam flanges and more particularly to a clamping mechanism for clamping warp flanges on a warp beam.

Numerous proposals have been made for detachably clamping two warp beam flanges on a warp beam. Thus, a warp beam flange is known in which the clamping action is produced by one or more radially disposed set screws extending between a hub of the warp beam flange and engaging screw threads in the warp beam. The relatively small effective area over which clamping action is effected and the consequent risk of damage to the screw threads of the warp beam are drawbacks of the arrangement.

In another warp beam flange an axially slit ring is employed but this reduces the length of the hub of the warp beam flange that can be used for transmitting the forces from the beam flange to the warp beam since a substantial proportion of the length is taken up by the clamp ring. Warp beam flanges of this type are consequently relatively weak and unable to take the stresses which occur in use.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a warp beam flange which provides a good clamping action on the warp beam.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a warp beam flange having a hub which can be made sufficiently long and rigid to be able to withstand heavy axial pressure acting on the warp beam flanges in the processing of warp threads, especially synthetic warp threads.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION The warp beam flange has a hub within a bore of which a supporting ring, rigidly connected to the hub, and a clamp ring, mounted for slidable movement but rotatably fixed relative to the supporting ring, are disposed, the supporting ring and the clamp ring being screw threaded and arranged to mate with corresponding screw threads on a warp beam. Adjusting means accessible when the warp beam flange is on a warp beam are provided for causing relative axial movement between the clamp ring and the supporting ring whereby the warp beam flange may be clamped on the warp beam.

The warp beam flange together with a clamping device is reliable in operation and nevertheless relatively inexpensive to produce.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a vertical section through one embodiment of a warp beam flange according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical'section through part of a second embodiment of a warpbeam flange according to" the present invention.

Referring to FIG. I there is shown one warp beam flange l of a pair of axially spaced apart warp beam flanges provided on the ends ofa warp beam. Each end of the warp beam which is of conventional construction has screw threads for engaging a corresponding screw thread of the warp beam flange whereby the lat ter is rotatably mounted on the warp beam so that the axial separation of the warp beam flanges can be varied in order to receive different numbers of warp threads or different weaving widths on the warp beam.

The warp beam flange 1 has a hub 4 in which there is an annular supporting ring 3. The supporting ring 3 is rigidly connected in a bore of the rim and is preferably a shrink flt therewith. To supplement the connec tion between the hub 4 and the supporting ring 3 at least one radial pin 5 extends thezrebetween. The supporting ring 3 bears against an annular shoulder 23 in the bore of the hub, the portion of the bore having the largest diameter being disposed remote from a radially directed flange surface 19 against which the warp threads are laying. The axial extent of the supporting ring is preferably at least one third of the axial extent of the bore as a whole. The supporting ring 3 is, therefore, prevented from rotating or any other movement relative to the hub 4. The radially directed outer face 16 of the supporting ring 3 is substantially flush or coplanar with the corresponding radially directed face 15 of the hub 4. The hub 4 is integral with a disk part 25 and a plurality of ribs 26.

An annular shoulder 8 is cut in the face of the supporting ring 3 opposite the face 116 and this shoulder guides an annular clamp ring 2. The clamp ring 2 and the supporting ring 3 each have a bore, both bores having the same female screwthreads 7 mating with the screwthreads on the warp beam. The screwthreads 7 are preferably cut in the clamp ring 2 and the supporting ring 3 while they are held in axial alignment. In order that the clamp ring 2 can be axially displaced slightly from the supporting ring 3 but cannot rotate relative thereto, at least one pin 16' extends in the axial direction therebetween, the pin 16' being a sliding fit in the clamp ring 2 and/or the supporting ring 3. Thus the clamp ring 2 can be moved in the axial direction relatively easily away from or towards the supporting ring 3 in a cavity in the hub. Between the clamp ring 2 and the bore of the hub 4 an annular gap 20 is provided, the gap 20 extending in the axial direction and communicating with a radially extending gap 21.

A plurality of clamping screws 6, for example, three equiangularly spaced apart screws 6, are provided in the supporting ring 3 and pass therethrough in axial direction and abut with one end against the clamp ring 2. The clamp ring 2 can, by rotation of these screws, be moved in the axial direction relative to the supporting ring 3, so that play in the screwthreads 7 can be eliminated and the warp beam flange l clamped fast on the screwthreads of the warp beam and thus prevented from any rotating relative thereto. The screws 6 are readily accessible to a tool, for example, a screwdriver, from the outer face 16 of the supporting ring 3, so that the clamp ring 2 can be easily clamped fast or released as required. The bore of the hub 4 has an inner, unthreaded part 18 which has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the screwthreads of the warp beam.

FIG. 2 illustrates a similar warp beam flange to that illustrated in FIG. 1 and like parts have been designated by like reference numerals. The warp beam flange of FIG. 2 is provided with springs 11 acting between the supporting ring 3 and the clamping ring 2 for clamping the warp beam flange l to the warp beam. A plurality of screws serve to alter the compression of the springs so that the clamp ring 2 can be clamped fast or released as required.

When the screws 10 are released the clamp ring 2 tends to move axially away from the supporting ring 3 under the action of the springs 11, and thus the clamp ring is clamped fast on the screwthreads of the warp beam. In order to release the clamp ring the screws 10 are turned so that the clamp ring 2 moves axially towards the supporting ring 3. The advantage of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 consists in that the clamping force can be maximized to a predetermined extent simply by the selection of the springs used. The springs 11 are preferably compression or cup springs which are arranged in enlarged bores 27 of the supporting ring 3. The thread 12 of each screw 10 is screwed into a female thread in the clamp ring 2.

The supporting ring 3 is, preferably, made of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the warp beam flange 1, so that the flange hub 4 as a whole is reinforced. The material used for the warp beam flange l and for the hub 4 may be an aluminium alloy, while the material used for the supporting ring 3 may be cast iron and the material for the clamp ring may be steel. Therefore, the supporting ring 3, having a higher modulus of elasticity than the hub provides effective reinforcement of the hub as a whole.

It will be appreciated that in the above described warp beam flanges a substantial part of the hub can be fully utilized to take up the axial forces acting on the warp beam flanges when a warp beam is filled with yarn and a heavy axial pressure is acting on the warp beam flange.

Furthermore, a good clamping action is achieved since the force acts on the entire periphery of the warp beam and the screwthreads of the warp beam are not damaged. In addition, the true running of the warp beam flange is ensured as a result of a relatively long thread 7.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A warp beam flange (1) comprising a disk (25) having an end face (19) and a bore, located centrally of the disk, a hub (4) adjacent the disk, a cavity (20, 21) formed within the hub (4), axial and radial force supporting means (3) rigidly connected to the hub, a clamp ring (2) located within the cavity and mounted for slidable axial movement but rotatably fixed relative to the supporting means and disposed between the supporting means (3) and the face (19) of the disk, the supporting means (3) and the clamp ring (2) each being internally screw threaded and arranged to mate with a corresponding screw thread on a warp beam, and adjusting means (6, 10, 11) for causing relative axial movement between the clamp ring (2) and the axial supporting means (3) to thereby clamp the warp beam flange on the screw thread of the warp beam by axial shift of the clamp ring (2) without rotation about the warp beam thread upon adjustment of said adjustment means.

2. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which said hub has an outer face (15) remote from the disk (25), and said supporting means comprises a supporting ring (3) having an end face (16) which is substantially coplanar with the outer face (15) of the hub (4), the supporting ring (3) having an axial extent at least one third of the axial extent of the hub (4).

3. A warp flange as claimed in claim 1 in which the supporting means (3) is made of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the hub.

4. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 3 in which the supporting means (3) is made of cast iron, the clamp ring (2) is made of steel, and the hub is made of an aluminum alloy.

5. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which the supporting means is a ring (3) secured by a shrink fit within the cavity (21) of the hub (4) and bears against an annular shoulder (23) provided in the cavity of the hub (4).

6. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises a plurality of spaced apart clamping screws (6) which are axially screwed into said supporting means (3), pass therethrough and abut against theclamp ring (2) to cause relative axial movement between the clamp ring (2) and the supporting means (3) by turning said screws (6).

7. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 6 in which the cavity has an axial extent to permit the clamp means (2) to be free to move axially away from said supporting means (3) to permit clamping by axially separating the clamp means (2) from the supporting means (3).

8. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises resilient means (11) located between the supporting means (3) and the clamp ring (2) and means (10) to move the clamp ring (2) counter the force of the resilient means.

9. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 8 in which said resilient means comprises a plurality of compression springs (11) arranged in bores (27) of said supporting means (3), and said moving means comprises screws (10) passing through said supporting means (3) and being screwed into said clamp ring (2).

10. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which the axial and radial force supporting means comprises a supporting ring (3) coaxial with said hub (4) and located remote from the disk (25). 

1. A warp beam flange (1) comprising a disk (25) having an end face (19) and a bore, located centrally of the disk, a hub (4) adjacent the disk, a cavity (20, 21) formed within the hub (4), axial and radial force supporting means (3) rigidly connected to the hub, a clamp ring (2) located within the cavity and mounted for slidable axial movement but rotatably fixed relative to the supporting means and disposed between the supporting means (3) and the face (19) of the disk, the supporting means (3) and the clamp ring (2) each being internally screw threaded and arranged to mate with a corresponding screw thread on a warp beam, and adjusting means (6, 10, 11) for causing relative axial movement between the clamp ring (2) and the axial supporting means (3) to thereby clamp the warp beam flange on the screw thread of the warp beam by axial shift of the clamp ring (2) without rotation about the warp beam thread upon adjustment of said adjustment means.
 2. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which said hub has an outer face (15) remote from the disk (25), and said supporting means comprises a supporting ring (3) having an end face (16) which is substantially coplanar with the outer face (15) of the hub (4), the supporting ring (3) having an axial extent at least one third of the axial extent of the hub (4).
 3. A warp flange as claimed in claim 1 in which the supporting means (3) is made of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the hub.
 4. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 3 in which the supporting means (3) is made of cast iron, the clamp ring (2) is made of steel, and the hub is made of an aluminum alloy.
 5. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which the supporting means is a ring (3) secured by a shrink fit within the cavity (21) of the hub (4) and bears against an annular shoulder (23) provided in the cavity of the hub (4).
 6. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises a plurality of spaced apart clamping screws (6) which are axially screwed into said supporting means (3), pass therethrough and abut against the clamp ring (2) to cause relative axial movement between the clamp ring (2) and the supporting means (3) by turning said screws (6).
 7. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 6 in which the cavity has an axial extent to permit the clamp means (2) to be free to move axially away from said supporting means (3) to permit clamping by axially separating the clamp means (2) from the supporting means (3).
 8. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which said adjusting means comprises resilient means (11) located between the supporting means (3) and the clamp ring (2) and means (10) to move the clamp ring (2) counter the force of the resilient means.
 9. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 8 in which said resilient means comprises a plurality of compression springs (11) arranged in bores (27) of said supporting means (3), and said moving means comprises screws (10) passing through said supporting means (3) and being screwed into said clamp ring (2).
 10. A warp beam flange as claimed in claim 1 in which the axial and radial force supporting means comprises a supporting ring (3) coaxial with said hub (4) and located remote from the disk (25). 